Childcare

The education authority of the city of St.Gallen operates two kinds of day-care facilities for primary- and nursery-school children. More than 500 children take part in these programmes.

Children whose parents need them to receive full-time care attend one of twelve childcare centres. Day-care centres are open 48 weeks a year, usually from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. Day-care centres are available in the centre of the city (Rosenberg, Riethüsli, St.Georgen, city centre, northeast and southeast districts), west of the city (Winkeln, Bruggen, Lachen) and east (Rotmonten, Langgass-Heiligkreuz, St.Fiden, Notkersegg, Neudorf).

The half-day centre at Oberzil is open from 11:30 am to 6:00 pm. The "Pinoccio" nursery school in Speicher provides comprehensive childcare in a farm environment.

Optional school-based programmes (Freiwillige Schulhausangebote or FSA) are operated on primary school premises. These support parents during the 40 school weeks by providing school lunches and/or after-school care, including help with homework.

Crèches Crèches provide care for groups of children of mixed ages on a half-day or full-day basis. The size of the group is limited to between 6 and 12 children depending on their ages. Most crèches will care for children from the age of 3 months; however, some will only take children from the age of 18 months.

Costs are often based on income and range from CHF 15 to 150 per day. There is often a waiting list for crèche places, so it is worth contacting them in plenty of time.

There are two crèches supported by the HSG: "Löwenzahn" crèche and "Triangel" crèche.